Childcare centre fire brought down, asbestos found

About 45 firefighters battled a "major" blaze at a childcare centre in the Auckland suburb of New Lynn today.

Fire Service northern communications centre shift manager Scott Osmond told NZPA an automatic fire alarm at Planet Kids was activated at 6.31pm.

Fifteen fire appliances and 45 firefighters battled the blaze, which involved the "total building", but the fire was brought down about 8pm, he said.

No one was in the building, and there were no other buildings in the immediate area. A railway line nearby had been closed due to thick smoke.

"Despite the fire being brought down, we have identified asbestos in parts of the building, so we'll be keeping it wet and calling in the local council's hazardous substance people to handle it."

Mr Osmond said the cause of the fire had not yet been determined and the fire service was investigating.

Planet Kids describes itself as a "supercare service in New Lynn that provides only the best of care" for children aged three months to 13 years.

It offers a childcare centre, after and before-school care and school holiday programmes.

- NZPA